Cheju

Island of volcanic origin (also known as Quelpart Island), and a province of South Korea, at the entrance to the Yellow Sea, 90 km/56 mi from South Korea's south coast; population (1990 est) 515,000. Cheju is about 72 km/45 mi long and 33 km/21 mi wide with an area of 1,828 sq km/706 sq mi. The extinct volcano Mount Halla, at 1,968 m/6,457 ft, is the highest mountain in South Korea. Agriculture on the island includes citrus fruits, cereals (especially barley), sweet potatoes, cotton, and Mongolian horses are reared. The volcanic scenery has attracted increasing numbers of international tourists since the 1970s.